New parks department program to help obese youth

Weight Winners to focus on self-esteem and exercise for children.

Weight Winners to focus on self-esteem and exercise for children.

October 21, 2006|JAMIE LOO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Do you ever feel like the heftiest or most out-of-shape person in the gym? Or apprehensive that everyone is staring as you work out? Children participating in sports or in gym class feel the same way sometimes, which is why the South Bend Parks and Recreation Department is launching Weight Winners. Weight Winners is geared toward overweight children ages 8 to 12 and will begin at the end of October, said youth program supervisor Karen Myers. The class will meet three times a week for six weeks. While there are an increasing number of pro-active programs to keep children from becoming obese, not much is done to help children who are already overweight. "I really found that overweight children need a safe place emotionally and physically to work out," Myers said. Susan O'Connor, director of recreation, and Myers both said they've found that children who are overweight often feel uncomfortable participating in physical activities with other children. In a group setting, Myers said, these children often feel "stared at" or singled out among peers who are skinnier or considered more athletic. She said this judgment affects their self-esteem and desire to exercise. Myers said she got the idea for the program after being contacted by a mother last February who wanted her overweight 9-year-old daughter to be more active. Myers worked with the girl individually three times a week for four and half weeks. The two went to the playground, rode scooters, jumped rope and did other fun physical activities. She also kept a journal. "It was really eye-opening to me how much she struggled with self-esteem," Myers said. In the end, the girl lost 1 1/2 pounds but had converted 9 1/2 pounds of fat into muscle. While some would say that isn't much progress, Myers said the program is more about a change in attitude about exercise and choices, not results from weight loss. Weight Winners will teach children "movement" and puts "play back into their lives," which is what will help change their bodies, she said. Myers said she wants to find out what types of activities the children enjoy and incorporate those with gym class and sports games. "It would really focus on just getting up and moving," she said. Participants will also keep a journal that Myers said will include a list of fruits and vegetables consumed, amount of sleep, cups of water, and any movement such as going for a walk or bike ride. The children also write down one positive thing that happened that day such as "getting an A on a test," Myers said. The program will also introduce healthy eating habits and snacks that children and parents may not have tried yet, she said. The program is still in its early stages, and O'Connor said the parks department would like to get school counselors and pediatricians involved to refer potential participants to Weight Winners. O'Connor said they are already working with local hospitals to partner with them on this program. Weight Winners has attracted attention from the National Recreation and Parks Association congress, which may look to South Bend as a model for a national program someday, O'Connor said. Myers said she would like to see a Weight Winners summer camp eventually, which could include motivational speakers and more activities. O'Connor and Myers said they hope the class will create a positive, supportive environment and that participants will develop a camaraderie empowering them physically and emotionally to make healthy lifestyle changes. "We really just want to help families get healthy and make healthy changes in their lives," O'Connor said. Staff writer Jamie Loo: jloo@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6337